The head of the world's largest pilots union urged the airline industry on Monday to find ways to alleviate the rising costs of aviators' schooling, saying a shortage of regional airline pilots looms in the United States.

The expensive education required to become a pilot, coupled with the low wages and benefits of entry-level jobs, is deterring the next generation of pilots from entering the profession, Tim Canoll, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), said in an interview.

That could result in service cuts to small U.S. cities and hurt regional carriers where many commercial pilots get their start, such as Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and SkyWest Inc., which larger U.S. airlines contract to operate low-demand routes.

Republic said in July that a shortage of pilots and an ongoing labor dispute forced it to fly less than forecast, causing second-quarter income to fall 79 percent year-over-year. The company's share price has plunged.

Canoll said ALPA, which does not represent pilots at Republic, currently sees no shortage of available candidates for U.S. airlines including Republic. There were roughly two government-approved pilots for every aviator job in the United States in 2014, according to the union, which represents pilot groups at 31 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

But demand for pilots is expected to jump in the next decade as U.S. airlines add planes to their fleets and thousands of pilots retire. Hiring sprees by the likes of American Airlines Group Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc may mean regional carriers are hard-pressed to find new staff.

Canoll said corporate or government-backed loans could help students pay their way through flight school. He said large U.S. airlines could also promise pilots-in-training a job after they do a stint at one of the regional carriers.

Large U.S. airlines will have to pay the regional carriers more so those companies can offer competitive wages, he added. Otherwise, carriers such as American may have to take over the routes that regionals operate.

"We have to find a way to draw the picture for a young person" considering the pilot profession, Canoll said. "They’re just not going to do it for $22,000 a year," he said, referring to a current typical starting salary at a regional airline.

Informal talks on how to avert a shortage are under way among industry and government stakeholders, and a formal group may be on the horizon, he said.

A Brit holidaymaker has nearly lost his leg following a near-fatal spider bite – which left his limb black and "bursting open".

Jonathan Hogg was told by doctors he could have died after he was bitten by a poisonous brown recluse spider.The 40-year-old barrister's leg was "bursting open" by the time he made it to hospital.He said: "The pain was like nothing I've been through in my life."By the time I got to hospital my leg was bursting open, there was pus, it was black."It was a right mess. They told me if I had been any later I would have lost my leg or even died. It was terrifying."Mr Hogg believes the bite happened six hours into a flight from Doha to Cape Town.After he felt a pain in his leg he saw a spider running across the plane's floor.He added: "I was struggling to get comfortable during the journey and crossed my legs to get into a better position when I felt a small, sharp pain radiating in my left leg."I turned on the light and clearly saw a spider running across the floor before hearing two stewardesses screaming 'Spider' – but I wasn't sure if I had been bitten as it really wasn't very painful."As his leg swelled and became bruised he took painkillers because he thought it might be deep-vein thrombosis.It was only when colleagues said it could be a spider bite that Mr Hogg linked the two events.Doctors diagnosed a bite from a brown recluse spider, which is venomous and potentially fatal.The spider is normally only found in the United States.An operation was needed to remove dead flesh."I knew something was wrong but I had no idea how bad it was until I spoke with the surgeon," he said."When he told me how close I had come to losing my leg I was stunned."It really hit home when they removed the bandages and I saw what was left of my leg."Mr Hogg has now launched legal action against the airline – Qatar Airways – which he claims has refused to accept responsibility.He added: "No one should have to go through what I have and if the airline has made a mistake it should take responsibility."A Qatar Airways spokesperson told Daily Star Online the airline were unaway of any legal proceedings. The spokesperson said: "The only known interaction between the airline and Mr Hogg regarding this incident, which he claims happened on a Qatar Airways aircraft in June, was via our website a week after his travel was complete."No report was filled with any staff on board regarding this incident. Qatar Airways takes the safety and security of our customers very seriously." Story and photo gallery: http://www.dailystar.co.uk

A barrister on the trip of a lifetime almost lost his leg after being bitten by a spider.

Doctors told Jonathon Hogg he could have died after he was believed to have been bitten by a poisonous brown recluse spider on a flight from Qatar to South Africa.

Within hours, the 40-year-old’s leg had ballooned and turned black; by the time he reached hospital it was “bursting open”.

Hogg, from Camden, north London, said: “The pain was like nothing I’ve been through in my life. By the time I got to hospital my leg was bursting open, there was pus, it was black.

“It was a right mess. They told me if I had been any later I would have lost my leg or even died. It was terrifying.”

Doctors rushed him into surgery and cut away a large part of his leg where the venom had eaten the flesh, but what was left “resembled something from a horror film”.

Hogg spent a month in hospital in South Africa, undergoing three operations and a skin graft, but three months on is still receiving medical treatment.

The keen footballer and kickboxer is now terrified of flying and fears he will never play sport again.

Hogg had taken five months off work and worked at an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo before travelling to South Africa in June to dive with sharks when his ordeal began.

Six hours into a flight from Doha to Cape Town he felt a pain in his leg before spotting a spider running across the floor. He said: “I was struggling to get comfortable during the journey and crossed my legs to get into a better position when I felt a small, sharp pain radiating in my left leg.

“I turned on the light and clearly saw a spider running across the floor before hearing two stewardesses screaming ‘Spider’, but I wasn’t sure if I had been bitten as it really wasn’t very painful.”

But his leg swelled up and became bruised so he took painkillers as he thought it might be deep-vein thrombosis. The next day it was worse – and he was surprised when colleagues said it looked like a spider bite and he needed urgent medical attention.

Doctors diagnosed a bite from a brown recluse spider, which is venomous and potentially fatal, and warned him he could have lost his leg or even died if he had not been treated.

After an operation to remove the dead flesh, Hogg was horrified to see the damage to his leg.

He said: “I knew something was wrong but I had no idea how bad it was until I spoke with the surgeon. When he told me how close I had come to losing my leg I was stunned.

“It really hit home when they removed the bandages and I saw what was left of my leg – it resembled something from a horror film. They had been forced to cut away so much, I was devastated.

“However, when I realized the extent of my injuries I realized I was just lucky to still have my leg – even if the sight of my leg shocked me when I finally saw it.”

Hogg has been told he may need another operation after learning that the skin graft has not taken. He is contemplating legal action against the airline, Qatar Airways, which he says has refused to accept responsibility.

He said: “They have made no attempt to resolve the issue and have basically said it was nothing to do with them. All this has left me very traumatised but determined to seek justice. No one should have to go through what I have and if the airline has made a mistake it should take responsibility.”

Richard Duxbury, from law firm Slater and Gordon, representing Hogg, said: “Mr Hogg has suffered a harrowing experience after he was bitten by a very venomous spider. This situation could have been far worse, with Mr Hogg narrowly avoiding losing his leg and perhaps even his life.

“Airlines have a responsibility to protect passengers from dangerous potential pests by properly fumigating all planes. We will now be investigating Mr Hogg’s claim to determine if there has been any wrongdoing by the airline.”

Qatar Airways said it was not aware of any legal action over the incident.

A spokeswoman said: “The only known interaction between the airline and Mr Hogg regarding this incident, which he claims happened on a Qatar Airways aircraft in June, was via our website a week after his travel was complete. No report was filed with any staff on board regarding this incident.

“We have also not been advised of any legal proceedings regarding this incident. In the circumstances we cannot comment further but will, of course, investigate any further information which is brought to our attention formally. Qatar Airways takes the safety and security of our customers very seriously.”

BY AMY MARTYNAt the contentious townhall meetings between city of Dallas staffers who insist Dallas Executive Airport is going to expand and neighboring Oak Cliff residents who would rather it didn't, one airplane in particular has drawn flak. "At previous meetings, everyone has brought up the yellow airplane that was so loud," says James Nutt, one of the airport's unhappy neighbors.Dallas Executive Airport, a small property in the Red Bird neighborhood, is owned by the city, which has been planning to renovate and expand it for the past four years. The neighbors-turned-activists who live next door say they wouldn't necessarily be against a bigger airport if the city had handled the expansion better. But they're unhappy they have largely been left out of the city's planning process, which has been secretive at times, as the Observer's Eric Nicholson reported last year. Among the questions neighbors have is how the city will limit further noise from the small planes already there before the airport gets bigger and hosts more planes. People who live next to the path of the airport's longer runaway complain about the sounds from private jets, while people closer to the shorter runaway, where Nutt lives, deal with smaller aircraft. The small yellow airplane "is like a Harley Davidson going down the street," Nutt says.The owner of the yellow airplane remained a mystery to the angry neighbors until another city-hosted meeting last month. Steven DeWolf, a Dallas attorney and successful wind energy developer, says the city invited him to speak, but he didn't realize that his airplane "was a big point of contention" and came to the meeting under the impression that he would have some sort of constructive talk with everyone about his plane, a model called the PT-17 Stearman, made by Boeing. The PT-17 was used as a primary trainer in the World War II era, and DeWolf says it was same model his father first learned to fly. He bought the plane in 1991 and practices patterns on early Friday mornings, dressed in the same style of jumpsuit pilots from that era wore. He wears a parachute with the outfit to be safe, but he's never had to use it. As DeWolf faced questions and complaints from angry neighbors at the August meeting, "I felt kind of bad for him," Nutt says. "I felt like the airport kind of threw him under the bus by asking him to speak." Nonetheless, Nutt wanted to make his concerns clear with DeWolf directly. He recalls telling the pilot, "You're the reason a lot of the people here don't want the airport expanded, because we don't want more noise." The noise, Nutt says, is so powerful that it shakes his windows and scares his dogs. After the meeting, residents described the confrontation with DeWolf and their unflattering impressions of him in a public Facebook thread. When we called DeWolf shortly afterward to hear his side of the story, he claimed that he flies only narrow patterns, inside the boundaries of the airport, and that he puts the engine to "idle" when he lands to reduce noise."Maybe I'm being overly sensitive," he reflected of his tense meeting with Oak Cliff neighbors. "Maybe it wasn't all directed toward me. They were nice enough to give me applause when I left," DeWolf said on the phone. Then he invited us to come to the DEA airport and see the airplane ourselves. Free ride in a biplane? Sorry, Oak Cliff. Watch our video inside his aircraft below: Story, photo and video: http://www.dallasobserver.com

Steve DeWolf and his 1942 AT-6 Texan, which was used to train U.S. Navy pilots for WWII

Solo lawyer and amateur pilot Steve DeWolf is in love with WW II-era training planes—especially the distinctive yellow 1942 AT-6 Texan that he stores and flies from Dallas' Executive Airport.

But last month when DeWolf was asked to speak at a community meeting at the city-owned airport about plans for a runway expansion, he discovered the airfield's residential neighbors do not have the same appreciation for vintage planes that he does.

"I came on and said, 'Yep, you might recognize the plane.' And one guy said 'Yep, that's the yellow plane—the one we hate,'''DeWolf said.

He had intended to educate the audience about the history of the AT-6 which trained countless U.S. Navy and Army Air Corps fighter and bomber pilots before they headed off to war (including his own father). Instead he found himself in litigation mode, defending his plane's engine noise in front of 70 angry neighbors.

"I'm a litigator. I'm not shy. But they weren't happy campers," DeWolf said. "One guy said I flew over his house continually. And I told him: 'With all due respect sir, that's not true,''' DeWolf said.

Verdicts of death by blunt force trauma have been returned by a jury at an inquest in Carlow into the deaths of a pilot and his passenger in a crash next Mount Leinster earlier this year.

Paul Smith (57), Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, and Bryan Keane (69), Williamstown, Kells, Co Meath, were killed on May 24th when their US-registered Cessna 182 aircraft crashed in the Blackstairs Mountains on the Carlow-Wexford border. Both victims were experienced pilots. Their two pet dogs also died in the crash.

The inquest at Carlow Courthouse heard the men were on their way to a private airfield in Taghmon, Co Wexford, when they crashed on a steep, rocky slope on the western side of a ridge extending south west from the Blackstairs summit. Weather conditions in the Blackstairs were described as misty and drizzly at the time.

In his preliminary crash report, Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) investigator Leo Murray said the Cessna left Ballyboy airfield in Co Meath at about 10 am on May 24th. A witness at the airfield saw the dogs being placed in their customary position in the aircraft’s rear cabin seats. Bernard Cullen, manager and owner of the airfield, said the flight had taken off with Mr Smith in the pilot’s seat while Mr Keane entered co-ordinates for the journey.

The flight proceeded in a southerly direction towards Athy, before taking a southeasterly course towards Taghmon. This course brought the aircraft to the south of Mount Leinster and towards rising terrain to the south of the summit of the Blackstairs.

No communications were recorded with an Air Traffic Control unit and no en-route airfield reported receiving a call from the aircraft.

The investigation report noted the wreckage was facing away from the initial impact point of the rising terrain. The main portion of the aircraft structure came to rest approximately 110m from the initial impact point. The engine was found 130m downhill from the main wreckage.

There were no general problems with cloud, visibility or weather but there would have been a risk of poor visibility and cloud conditions above 1,000 feet, due to condensation.

Hillwalker Larry Darcy from Co Wexford said it was his first time to walk in the Blackstairs. He had been walking for about two hours when he heard an aircraft. “It had a sharp sound. I knew by the sound it was low.”

Later, he saw a blue and white object on the Carlow side of the mountain. He then found the bodies of the two men and the dogs. Mr Darcy said he knew they were all dead.

Dr Fergus McSweeney conducted postmortems of both men at Waterford Regional Hospital the day after. He said Mr Keane suffered multiple external and internal injuries, including fractures and haemorrhages and damage to internal organs. He could not find any condition of underlying disease and there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs in his system.

Dr McSweeney outlined similar type injuries to Mr Smith who, he said, also displayed scarring of the heart consistent with a previous heart attack.Carlow coroner Dr Brendan Doyle returned verdicts in accordance with the finding of the jury. He expressed the hope the inquest would bring “some closure” to the families.

On May 24, 2015, at 0930 universal coordinated time, a Cessna 182, N247P, impacted terrain near Carlow, Ireland. The private pilot and a private pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The personal flight departed from Ballyboy Airfield, Meath, Ireland, and was en route to IlAS Airfield, Wexford, Ireland.

This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of the Ireland. Further information may be obtained from:

TROUTDALE, OR (KPTV) - A Troutdale Airport mechanic was taken to the hospital after being hit by a moving airplane propeller.

Emergency crews responded to the airport at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters said a mechanic was working on a twin-engine plane, with the engines running. The airplane was secured, however investigators said a second mechanic inside the plane adjusted the controls, causing the plane to lunge forward.

The mechanic on the outside was struck in the left arm by the propeller.

His injuries were described as severe, but they are not believed to be life-threatening.

Firefighters said the man, who is in his mid-20s, was conscious and talking while he was being treated at the scene.

BOISE -- The Idaho Supreme Court has reversed a lower court's dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit against the Idaho Department of Fish and Game filed after a helicopter crash that killed the pilot and two agency biologists.The court on Friday said the lawsuit by the father of the pilot killed in the crash can proceed because of the possible liability of state officials.Perry Krinitt filed the lawsuit following the 2010 crash in northern Idaho that killed 43-year-old Perry J. Krinitt Jr. of Belgrade, Mont.The crash also killed 47-year-old Larry Barrett and 34-year-old Danielle Schiff, biologists planning to count salmon spawning nests in the Selway River.Federal aviation officials say a clipboard Schiff carried into the rotorcraft somehow fell out and hit the tail rotor.Source: http://www.ktvb.com

Description: This lawsuit arose out of a fatal helicopter crash that occurred on August 31, 2010, in Kamiah, Idaho. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Department) had contracted with Leading Edge Aviation, LLC, to fly two Department employees from Clarkston, Washington, to the Selway River in Idaho in order to collect data on salmon spawning. The pilot of the helicopter was Perry J. Krinitt, Jr., the son of the Plaintiff. The two Department employees were Larry Barrett and Danielle Schiff. Read more here: http://www.morelaw.comNTSB Identification: WPR10FA44014 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Tuesday, August 31, 2010 in Kamiah, IDProbable Cause Approval Date: 04/04/2012Aircraft: HILLER UH 12E, registration: N67264Injuries: 3 Fatal.NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.Two state biologists planned to conduct an aerial wildlife survey in a commercially-owned helicopter equipped with a three-abreast bench seat and a fully enclosed cabin. After briefing with the biologists, the pilot stowed most of the biologists' equipment and personal effects on the helicopter's external racks, and all three boarded the helicopter, with the biologists in each of the outboard seats. The plan was to conduct a fuel stop at one of the operator's fuel trucks located about 80 miles east of the departure airport, and then conduct the survey in the region near the fuel truck. The helicopter departed, and 6 minutes later, the state communications center received the first automated flight-following transmission. About 33 minutes later, the pilot broadcast that the helicopter was “landing at Kamiah,” which was about 35 miles short of the planned destination. An exact correlation between the time of the transmission and the accident time could not be determined, but the transmission was very likely within 4 minutes of the accident, and possibly much closer. No further transmissions were received from the helicopter. Several witnesses observed the helicopter transiting west to east, then heard unusual noises emanating from the helicopter and observed objects separating or falling from it. Several witnesses reported that it was rotating as it descended; one witness stated that the nose was “dipping” up and down, and other witnesses reported that the trajectory steepened as the helicopter descended. The main wreckage was found in the driveway of a residence, and a 1,500-foot debris field was oriented back along the helicopter's flight path; some of the items at the beginning of the debris field included tail rotor blade and tail rotor gearbox segments, and fragments of a metal clipboard that belonged to one of the biologists. Witness marks on the tail rotor and clipboard clearly indicated that the clipboard struck and separated the tail rotor, which resulted in the loss of control of the helicopter. Helicopter geometry and aerodynamics suggested that the clipboard originated from the left side of the helicopter.The investigation was unable to determine why the helicopter diverted to Kamiah. One of the biologists was reported to be susceptible to airsickness. Anti-nausea wristbands were found in the external luggage, but they could not be definitively associated with any particular person on the helicopter. The landing diversion could have been to allow a biologist to access the wristbands, to prevent the biologist from getting sick in the helicopter, or to allow the biologist to discontinue the flight altogether. Other speculative reasons for the diversion include a problem with the helicopter, the need for one of the biologists to retrieve something other than the medication from the externally-stowed luggage, or the need to retrieve the clipboard that was inadvertently left unsecured on one of the external racks. Because the fuel stop was planned to occur prior to beginning the survey, that stop would have provided the opportunity to retrieve any survey-related articles from the stowed luggage; thus it is unlikely that survey equipment was needed at that time. Aside from the clipboard-induced tail rotor system damage, examination of the helicopter and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact condition or failure that would have precluded normal operation or continued flight. There was no evidence that anyone actually got sick during the flight. Therefore, the landing diversion was likely either to provide an opportunity to somehow address the airsickness issue, or to retrieve the misplaced clipboard.It could not be determined whether the clipboard originated from inside or outside the cabin. If the clipboard were inside the cabin at the beginning of the flight, the only exit path would be via an open door. If a door were opened either intentionally or unintentionally, the clipboard could have exited either because it was near the door or because it was already resting on the bubble window at the time. Although one witness stated that the right cabin door was open in flight, the damage patterns indicated that both cabin doors were closed at impact. However, this does not mean that the door was not opened during the flight, and then closed during the descent.Although a witness stated that all external cargo items were secure before takeoff, it is possible that the clipboard was inadvertently left on an external baggage rack, went unnoticed until the helicopter was in flight, and was the reason for the diversion. Flight path data indicated that the helicopter was in a continuous climb until about 5 minutes prior to the accident. Since the cargo racks had mesh floors, the clipboard might have been held in place by the external airloads during the climbing portion of the flight and was only dislodged by altered airflow during the descent for the diversionary landing. Although two witnesses saw geese in the vicinity of the helicopter, there was no evidence of a bird strike. Several noteworthy safety-related discrepancies were revealed during the investigation, even though they did not directly contribute to the accident or its severity. The genealogy of the helicopter could not be clearly established and remained suspect. Although the helicopter bore what appeared to be the manufacturer's original data plate, the accident helicopter configuration differed significantly from the as-delivered configuration, and there were no appropriate means of converting the as-delivered configuration to the as-found configuration. In addition, the helicopter was not in conformance with at least two contractual requirements regarding flight safety equipment. Finally, the state flight-following service, which was responsible for monitoring the progress of the flight, had to be prompted by the operator to determine the status of the flight after the helicopter disappeared from the operator's flight-following display.The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:In-flight impact of a passenger's metal clipboard with the helicopter’s tail rotor, which resulted in destruction of the tail rotor and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The original location of the clipboard and how it became free could not be determined.

Expanding a runway so that the Chillicothe Municipal Airport can accommodate corporate jets has been a long journey, but the city is nearing the final pre-construction stages with the passage of two ordinances Monday evening.

One ordinance related to a state block grant agreement and the other involved an airport consulting agreement with a master plan update and airport layout plan.

The airport improvement program includes constructing a 5,000-foot concrete runway.

This has been in the works since 2000 and the city just last month acquired the last of seven properties necessary for the expansion.

On Monday, city council members authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in regard to a state block grant agreement for the airport improvement program and all acts necessary to carry out the terms of the agreement.

The portion of the grant is for $40,384, with a local match of $4,487.

The council also authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with H.W. Lochner, Inc., to provide professional services in regard to an aviation project consultant agreement. The city has utilized this firm for many years.

“A little bit of history is being made,” Mayor Chuck Haney said during the council meeting.

The airport expansion project has been 90 percent funded through the federal and state governments, with a 10 percent local match.

The airport-related issues were the main topics of discussion for the council during the regular meeting.

RACHEL AVIATION INC: http://registry.faa.gov/N2175KNTSB Identification: ERA15LA377 14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Tuesday, September 29, 2015 in Dawson Springs, KYAircraft: PIPER PA 28RT-201T, registration: N2175KInjuries: 1 Serious.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On September 29, 2015, about 1100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, N2175K, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Owensboro Airport (OWB), Owensboro, Kentucky. The flight originated from Foley Municipal Airport (5R4), Foley, Alabama, about 0730.The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl), he heard a loud bang and the engine began to run rough. He declared an emergency to air traffic control (ATC); after which, another bang was heard and the engine lost all power. Additionally, pieces of the engine exited the cowling and oil flowed onto the windscreen. With the assistance of ATC, the pilot attempted to divert to runway 36 at Tradewater Airport (8M7), Dawson Springs, Kentucky; however, after descending through a cloud layer at 1,800 feet msl, the pilot could not locate the turf runway and elected to perform a forced landing to a field.Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest upright against a small tree, in a field about 1 mile west of 8M7. The inspector observed damage to both wings and the fuselage. He also noted a hole in the top rear of the engine case, near the No. 2 cylinder. The engine was retained for further examination.Madisonville Regional Airport (2I0), Madisonville, Kentucky, was located about 16 miles northeast of the accident site. The recorded weather at 2I0, at 1055, was: wind from 100 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 5 miles in light rain; scattered clouds at 1,900 feet; broken ceiling at 3,700 feet; overcast ceiling at 4,400 feet; temperature 22 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches Hg.

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Louisville FSDO-17

UPDATE: DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (9/29/15) 4:30 p.m. — A retired coal miner with first aid rescue training said he witnessed the plane that had crashed in a field directly across from his Dawson Springs home this morning.Officials rendered aid to the Alabama pilot injured in the single-engine Piper aircraft at about 11 a.m. after he reported engine trouble, authorities indicated. He was attempting to land the plane on a grass landing strip between Interstate 69 and U.S. 62 overshooting the runway by about a mile.Virgil Mitchell, 81, noted he was sitting outside waiting for a telephone repairman, when he spotted the low-flying aircraft.“I didn’t even hear it,” he said. “I had just raised up and saw it coming in low, right behind that church. The engine was off … I thought, 'Boy he was low'.”Mitchell said he saw the wing clip a cedar tree, and then, the plane hit the ground and slid across the field, stopping about 300 yards from the roadway along the 1500 block of Kentucky 109.“I thought the plane was going to flip and explode,” he said.Mitchell said he acted on his first instinct and ran as fast as he could toward the plane. When he got to the wreckage, he said the pilot was crawling out of the aircraft on his hands and knees.“I was afraid maybe he was hurt bad, but when I got there to him, he was very sensible and told me where he was from and that he was going to Owensboro,” said Mitchell.Police quickly got to the scene, Mitchell said, and the pilot asked them to roll him over on his side due to back pain.“They told them they couldn’t, but if he (the pilot) wanted to roll on his side himself, he could and he did,” Mitchell said. “I was afraid to touch him on account of his back.”Mitchell noticed blood dripping from the top of the pilot’s head, saying he was not complaining about that injury.Mitchell also indicated the man said the plane belonged to his wife, as he provided officials with his wife’s phone number for immediate contact.“The engine wasn’t shut off and he told some of the (rescue personnel) to turn the key to the left to make sure it was off,” Mitchell said, noting the pilot, who appeared to be 50 to 60 years old, was worried about the plane catching fire.“He held himself together well considering what he’d been through,” Mitchell said.Dawson Springs and St. Charles firefighters reported no fuel leaks were found in proximity of the wreckage, and authorities secured the scene.The injured man was taken to Baptist Health Madisonville for treatment of a head laceration and possible back injuries, Dawson Springs Police Chief Coleman Dixon said.Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were called to the site to investigate the cause of the crash.Dixon said this afternoon the man’s name would be released Wednesday morning, after the Federal Aviation Administration completes the report.Source: http://surfky.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) -- A laser was pointed at a plane upon its approach to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, prompting an investigation.

Airport police and Kent County Sheriff's Department officers responded to the airport just after 5:30 a.m. Tuesday upon reports a laser was flashed into the cockpit of a cargo jet, according to airport spokeswoman Tara Hernandez.

The pilot did not change the plane's landing pattern, she said. It touched down safely.

Officials believe the laser beam originated about eight miles southwest of the airport.

Police are investigating, and the FBI has been notified about the incident.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Rolls Royce and American Airlines are shutting down a Texas plant that maintains and repairs aircraft engines, citing falling demand for the work.

The plant is operated by a 50-50 joint venture between the two companies and employs 600 people. Work will shift to other locations, and the plant is expected to close by January.

American says it will provide job opportunities for the 500 plant workers who are represented by a union and will create more than 100 union jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to offset the closure.

American said Tuesday that it accepted a Rolls Royce request to dissolve the joint venture and close the Texas Aero Engine Services plant in Fort Worth. The joint venture was created in 1998 to work on certain Rolls Royce engines used on American Airlines jets. However, work declined after American stopped using one of the engine types in 2004, and work on another type is falling as American retires its Boeing 757 jets.

Shares of American's parent, American Airlines Group Inc., rose 62 cents to $39.70 in midday trading Tuesday. The engine maker is a unit of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC.

NTSB Identification: CEN15LA43214 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Monday, September 28, 2015 in Shattuck, OKAircraft: RANS S18, registration: NoneInjuries: 1 Fatal.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On September 28, 2015, about 1925 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Rans S18 airplane, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a field 2 miles east of Shattuck, Oklahoma. The pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. The unregistered airplane was owned and operated by the non-certificated pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed about 1923 from a grass airstrip located approximately .5 miles from the accident site, and was en route to Gage Airport (GAG), Gage, Oklahoma, located 5 miles northeast of the accident site. At 1853, the surface weather observation at GAG was: wind 140 degrees at 4 kts; 10 miles visibility; sky clear; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 12 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury.

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Oklahoma City FSDO-15

David William Kelln was born June 8, 1978 in Canadian, Texas, as the third child of Mark and Mary Kelln. He was the middle child with older siblings, Audra and Matthew, and younger brothers, Joseph and Micah. He departed this life to his heavenly reward on September 28, 2015, near Shattuck, Oklahoma, as the result of an airplane crash, but doing what he loved to do.
Growing up, David was certainly all boy. Never one to hang around the house, he was an outdoor kind of guy, and that was evident from an early age. He was full of vigor and curiosity, he was full of life. And why wouldn’t he be? He grew up on Wolf Creek, where there was fish to catch, things to explore, tunnels to dig, and forts to build. A wonderful environment for a young boy’s imagination and curiosity to think of a million things to do. And he had plenty of playmates. In addition to his four siblings, he had seven first cousins, all living in Shattuck. Twelve Kelln cousins, seven boys and five girls, and all about the same age. Life was wonderful. For a short time, the family lived in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and Ellinwood, Kansas.
As a student at Shattuck High, he participated in the normal school activities. He was an excellent athlete and participated in all of the sports. But, even then, he was more interested in working. In addition to helping his Dad on their own place, he was worked for area farmers and he even worked nights at Humalfa while he was still in high school. He had to be busy. He had to be doing something. He had a natural curiosity and a need to know how things worked and, to compliment that, he had an innate ability to figure it out.
He graduated with the Shattuck High School Class of 1997 and promptly entered the work force. It was not long before his talents as a welder and metal fabricator began to fully bloom. With a welding rod in his hand, he was truly an artist. He could run any piece of equipment and fix just about anything. After working for several people he opened his own shop, Dave’s Welding and Trailer Sales. It was here that he developed a reputation for high quality work and developed many friends through his business.
In 2003, David and Amy Cummings were married and to this union two children were born, a daughter, Alexis Jurhee, and a son, Luke William.
He is survived by Amy, daughter, Lexi, and son, Luke; his parents Mark and Mary Kelln; sister Audra Kelln-Tomlinson; brother, Matthew; brother Micah, and his wife, Angela. He is also survived by six nieces and two nephews, many of whom he served as a father figure. He is also survived by several uncles and aunts, cousins and many friends.
David was preceded in death by his grandparents Sam and Betty Barton and C.Q. Kelln and William and Maxine Hopson. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Joseph.Memorial contributions may be made to the Lexi and Luke Kelln Education Fund in care of Mason Funeral Home, P.O. Box 695, Shattuck, OK 73858. Source: http://www.masonfuneralservice.comDAVID KELLN

A Shattuck man died when his ultralight aircraft crashed east of Shattuck on Monday night, said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.David W. Kelln, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash from head and internal trunk injuries, the OHP said.

Kelln was flying a Rans S-18 Stinger aircraft going southwest when, for an unknown reason, the aircraft "descended into the ground," the OHP said.

The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. on a county road two miles east of Shattuck.

The OHP said the Federal Aviation Administration would continue an investigation into the accident.

The crash was initially investigated by OHP troper Cody Rehder, assisted at the scene by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office, Shattuck Police Department, Fire and Rescue and EMS.Source: http://www.woodwardnews.net

Albert J. Plawinski, a second-year student at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to compel it to comply with the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A copy of the complaint is available online.Plawinski has been doing research for a professor on the FAA's sluggish response to drones, which he calls "exciting new aviation technology." On June 5 of this year, Plawinski filed a FOIA request with the FAA asking it to release the contents of Certificates of Authority (COAs) it has granted to nearly 1,700 applicants for "section 333 exemptions" allowing them to fly small unmanned aircraft ("drones") commercially. The FAA has not sent Plawinski the information he requested."What I've asked for—the COAs—set specific limitations on drone flights to reduce risks of mid-air collisions with other aircraft and crashes that jeopardize people on the ground," Plawinski explained."It's irrational for them to put the exemptions up on their website, while keeping the COAs secret," he said. "The exemptions are only half the story."Under the Freedom of Information Act, agencies receiving such requests must respond with the requested information or assert specific statutory exceptions to disclosure. Federal courts have the power to enforce the obligations and to scrutinize agency claims of exception."As a law student, I've learned that individual citizens must take action to make sure governmental agencies respect their legal obligations," he said.Plawinski graduated from the University of Illinois in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He enrolled at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2014 and expects to receive his law degree in 2017.Founded in 1888, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech, a private, technology-focused, research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law.

John D. Crow is being held in the Terrebonne Parish jail on a $5 million bond. He is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 30.

(Photo via Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office)

Louisiana State Police

Nearly $470,000 worth of cocaine seized Sept. 28 from the plane of a Texas man who landed at the Thibodaux Airport is believed to have originated in Mexico, local authorities said. John Crow, 29, was headed toward the East Coast from his home in Brownsville, Texas, when he landed at the airport, in Schriever, to refuel, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said. Federal and state authorities arrested Crowe in the early evening on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and transactions involving drug proceeds.

Crow, in the Terrebonne jail on a $5 million bond, is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 30 in state District Judge Juan Pickett's Houma courtroom.

Terrebonne District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. confirmed that his office is discussing the possibility of state charges in addition to federal ones. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is in charge of the investigation.

“The case is still in its infancy, but it may go down both ways,” Waitz said. “It's a serious case.”

The Sheriff's Office, Customs, State Police and Thibodaux Police made contact with Crow's plane when it landed, officials said. Police seized 15.6 kilograms of cocaine and $2,090 in cash, along with the plane.

Local officials declined to comment on the exact origin of the drugs in Mexico or Crow's final destination, citing the ongoing federal investigation.

Larpenter said this wasn't the first time his agency had intercepted large quantities of drugs in transit from Mexico, citing similar past busts of airplanes and shrimp boats.

“All of this cocaine, heroin and synthetic marijuana are not grown here. All we can do is to try to stop it from coming in,” he added. “We're fighting it vigorously.”

Brownsville lies on the U.S.-Mexico border, directly north of the city of Matamoros. A former tourist town, Matamoros has become one of the most dangerous border cities in Mexico over the past five years after violence erupted from the Los Zetas and Gulf drug cartels fighting over territory.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill temporarily renewing authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration while lawmakers consider whether to take responsibility for air traffic control away from the government and place it under the direction of a nonprofit corporation.

The six-month extension was passed by voice vote Monday. The bill now goes to the Senate.

The temporary extension provides a window for congressional action on a larger aviation policy bill. Congress typically renews the FAA's authorization every four to six years, using the bills as an opportunity to address a wide range of aviation issues. The most recent authorization is due to expire Wednesday.

Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, has said he intends to introduce a "transformational" reauthorization bill that will spin off air traffic control, thus removing it from the uncertainties of the congressional budgeting process that have hobbled the FAA's air traffic modernization effort.

There were 23 temporary extensions of FAA's authority before the last reauthorization bill was passed in 2012. The agency was also shut down for two weeks in 2011 in a squabble between the House and the Senate over subsidized air service for rural communities. In 2013, government-wide spending cuts imposed by Congress led to a 10 percent furlough of controllers, resulting in widespread air traffic delays.

Many other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, use nonprofit corporations, private companies or quasi-public agencies to provide air traffic control services, while the government provides safety oversight. The model lawmakers are most likely to follow is NAV Canada, a private corporation without shareholders that operates much like a customer cooperative and is funded by fees paid by airlines and other aviation system users.

The concept of spinning off air traffic control has had the support of the airline industry and many government officials and aviation insiders since the 1990s. But opposition from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, as well as private aircraft operators, prevented significant action. More recently, NATCA's president, Paul Rinaldi, has said he is willing to at least consider a proposal if one is made.

Shuster had intended to introduce the FAA bill in July, but abruptly changed his mind. Some Democrats on the committee have questioned the necessity of spinning off air traffic control, saying safety has never been greater and the system functions well. They note that the U.S. aviation system is about 10 times the size of the Canadian system, and far more complex.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Charlotte resident Nick Orchard was among the passengers on board American flight 827. He says the plane had just taken off from when he felt a jolt on the left side of the cabin.

"It almost seemed to decelerate momentarily, but it did continue with the takeoff. That was accompanied by a infinite, but not an overpowering burning smell in the cabin. And it was shortly after that the pilot came on-- probably 30 seconds into the flight-- and advised us that there had been a bird strike," Orchard said.

Orchard says the plane circled a few times before landing back at the Jamaican airport.

All the passengers were bused back to a hotel. Most probably won't find out until Tuesday morning when they can leave.Source: http://www.wcnc.com

GLO Airlines, a New Orleans-based regional airline for the Gulf and Mid-South regions, is expected to announce service from Memphis International Airport Tuesday morning.

The announcement is expected to be part of a multi-city launch of nonstop air service to cities throughout the Gulf and Mid-South regions.

According to its LinkedIn page, “GLO’s vision is to provide regional business and leisure travelers a new option: One that couples the time efficiency of flying with the comfort and seamlessness of a first-rate air carrier.”

It is not yet known which other cities will be included in the launch. However, Bond Public Relations & Brand Strategy of New Orleans, which is representing GLO, was advertising a position for a GLO representative in Little Rock and Birmingham on its Facebook page earlier this year.

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority sent a media alert Monday afternoon that a new airline would make a nonstop service announcement Tuesday morning before the Airport Authority’s scheduled press conference that afternoon.

GLO Airlines is founded by Calvin “Trey” Fayard, III, a member of Fayard Law Firm in New Orleans.

Fayard has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Methodist University, a master’s of science in shipping, trade and finance from City University London and a law degree from Tulane University.

NTSB Identification: WPR15FA268 14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Monday, September 28, 2015 in Port Townsend, WAAircraft: CESSNA 150F, registration: N8529GInjuries: 2 Serious.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On September 28, 2015, about 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8529G, sustained substantial damage following an emergency landing and collision with terrain after a reported loss of engine power during initial climb near Port Townsend, Washington. The commercial pilot and his sole passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was being conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the Jefferson County International Airport (0S9), Port Townsend, Washington, about 1315, with its destination unknown.According to witnesses interviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), when the airplane was east of the golf course where the accident occurred, the engine was heard sputtering, then backfired; one witness thought he heard it stop completely. Another witness added that he observed the airplane turn west, then north while overhead, before going out of sight behind a stand of trees, after which he heard the sound of a crash.On the day following the accident, the NTSB IIC surveyed the accident site. Both of the airplane's wings had simultaneously impacted two trees on a heading of north at about the 40-foot level. This was followed by the engine colliding head on with a 28-inch diameter tree in the same direction, and at about the same height. The airplane then rotated about 90 degrees to the left prior to falling vertically to the ground, coming to rest upright in a dense forested area. The forward section of the airplane and both wings were substantially damaged, while the aft fuselage and empennage sustained only minor damage. There was no postcrash fire.The airplane was recovered to a secured storage facility for further examination

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Seattle FSDO-01

Two people suffered serious injuries when their small, single-engine airplane crashed at 1:21 p.m., Monday, Sept. 28 at Discovery Bay Golf Course, located about 4 miles from Port Townsend. A reporting party stated that the plane engine had stuttered and appeared to lose power before crashing into heavy brush just north of the tee box on the golf course's 17th hole, according to a press release from East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR).

The golf course is just west of Jefferson County International Airport.

EJFR personnel arrived to find two occupants, a man and a woman, entrapped in the wreckage. Both appeared to be in their 70s; their identities were not known at time of transport, according to officials.

When found, the woman was conscious, but the man, the pilot, was not, according to Jefferson County Undersheriff Joe Nole. The man later regained consciousness, Nole said.

Rescue crews used a Hurst Jaws of Life tool to free a man and a woman before transporting them to ambulances, and then used a water and foam spray to neutralize the hazard created by leaking airplane fuel.

EJFR Fire Chief Gordon Pomeroy called in two helicopters from Airlift Northwest. Both helicopters landed nearby on the 17th fairway about 30 minutes after the request.

The two patients were transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Their names have not yet been made public.

Approximately 20 minutes after his arrival, Chief Pomeroy conducted a conference call with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board to share identifying information from the plane fuselage and details of the wreck.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 2:26 p.m. and turned the site over to deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- It has been one year since FAA contractor Brian Howard set fire to an air traffic control center in Aurora, Ill., snarling air travel for more than two weeks.

The FAA promised quick fixes but many are easier said than done.

Early on the FAA viewed its response to the sabotage as a success because there were no incidents or accidents. But frequent flyers felt differently as delays spread from days to weeks.

Howard's act, attempting suicide and setting fire to the Aurora FAA facility, exposed the Achilles' heel of America's air traffic control system.

On Sept. 26, 2014, haunting words came from air traffic control.

"Attention all aircraft on 121.5: If you can hear this, this is Chicago Center. We are evacuating the building due to a fire. If you need any assistance just try to contact a nearest FAA approach facility."

Radar was down as well as some communication. Controllers couldn't see planes and didn't know if pilots could hear them.

"We just had a major loss of power. November 7-1-5 Lima Mike, Chicago. November 7-1-5 Lima Mike on 121.5. Are you here?"

Hundreds of flights were immediately grounded. Delays stretched over 17 days thanks to what was essentially a huge blind-spot over half-a-dozen Midwest states.

Flight plans were being hand-written and faxed between control centers.

"The current back-up plan for the agency is to get everyone on the ground safely and everyone to their destination safely," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on Oct. 3, 2014. It has never been so that every airline can run 100-percent of their operation.

In a report the FAA admitted it must do better. The agency promised to "within 12 months... reduce its response to major facility outage from days to hours."

Monday, a spokesperson refused to say whether that goal has been met.

Howard had the access and expertise to take this facility off-line, crippling air travel for weeks. Politicians wondered why it was so easy.

After a year the FAA will only say, "new practices and policies have strengthened our security posture while also enabling us to quickly share surveillance, communications and weather information with other facilities in the event of an outage."

In the wake of the Aurora air traffic control fire the FAA also vowed to enhance contingency planning. They're proceeding with the decade-long roll-out of "Next Gen," which will give the air traffic control system far more flexibility. But like anything else in Washington, improvement is tied to money and the FAA administrator has said many of the improvements that should be made, won't happen with additional funding.

NTSB Identification: CEN15LA431 14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Monday, September 28, 2015 in Gardner, KSAircraft: EDWARD M VAN MORLAN RANS S-12, registration: N98ESInjuries: 1 Serious.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On September 28, 2015, about 0825 central daylight time, a kit-built Rans S-12 experimental light sport airplane, N98ES, collided with terrain while maneuvering to land at the Gardner Municipal Airport (K34), Gardner, Kansas. The private pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed K34 shortly before the accident.A witness observed the accident airplane taxi from its hangar to runway 8/26. The witness heard a sound consistent with the airplane's engine increase in RPMs and then it sounded like the RPMs had decreased. He saw the airplane gliding towards runway 17 before the airplane slowly pitched up. The witness saw the airplane stall and roll into a left spin with the nose pointed towards the ground. The airplane impacted terrain in a near vertical attitude.The airplane was retained for further examination.FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Wichita FSDO-64GARDNER- A Kansas man was injured in a Rans S-12 aircraft just before 9 a.m. on Monday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Cessna 172R piloted by Edward M. VanMorlan, 69, Olathe, took off and made a banking turn.

During the turn, the engine cut off and the aircraft fell approximately 300 feet, striking nose first into the ground.

The aircraft rotated from impact and came to rest on its wheels.

VanMorlan was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Officials did not release his condition.